The Story of Ventura TRAVEL

From a student-organized Ecuador trip to a global house of specialist travel brands

It started with curiosity and a real connection

Ventura TRAVEL began with a belief: travel should change lives. Not just for travelers, but also for the people and places they visit. Long before it became a company, it was a feeling experienced on dusty buses, in family homes, and during late-night market conversations across South America.

What started as one traveler helping friends discover the continent slowly evolved into a purpose-driven ecosystem of specialist travel brands, always built on authenticity, small groups, and measurable positive impact.

The moment it became more than just travel

In 2000, during university, Andre co-organized a trip for 15 students to Ecuador. The impact was immediate: travelers came back transformed. Quickly, idea took root that this could be something more.

By September 2001, the first brand (Viventura) was born. By May 2002, the first official small-group trip (Peru, Bolivia & Chile) departed. No investors, no shortcuts, just conviction, dedication, and handwritten itineraries. Even before that first departure, support for local projects began in Peru under what would later become V Social Foundation, proving that Ventura was always designed with responsibility first, business second.

Growth not by scale, but by specialization

Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Viventura grew organically, never chasing mass tourism. The focus remained: small groups, authentic suppliers, fair partnerships, human-first travel.

By the mid-2010s, one brand couldn’t hold all the potential. The model evolved: instead of one giant brand, Ventura became a House of Specialist Brands, each led by someone in love with their region.

Automation and later AI allowed the company to scale operations without losing human connection. Technology became more like an enabler, freeing teams to focus on impact, not admin.

Today, Ventura remains founder-led and values-driven, expanding globally while protecting authenticity.

Key milestones in the Ventura TRAVEL story

And for 2026, we're already looking forward to our 25th anniversary celebration in Arequipa.

What never changed:

Small groups over mass volume

Local-first partnerships with guides, families, and communities

Responsibility embedded before revenue (V Social pre-first trip)

Founder mindset: each brand led by someone who loves their region

Technology used to empower people, not replace them

The promise of our future

Ventura TRAVEL will continue scaling its House of Specialist Brands while preserving authenticity.

We will keep investing in local communities, conservation, and impact-first tourism. We will grow smarter, not louder. We will use technology to enhance humanity, not distance from it.

Learn more about our approach to responsible travel

Link to the responsibilty page

Check out our plans for the future

Link to IPO page

It started with curiosity and a real connection

The moment it became more than just travel

In 2000, during university, Andre co-organized a trip for 15 students to Ecuador. The impact was immediate: travelers came back transformed. Quickly, idea took root that this could be something more.

Growth not by scale, but by specialization

Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Viventura grew organically, never chasing mass tourism. The focus remained: small groups, authentic suppliers, fair partnerships, human-first travel.

Automation and later AI allowed the company to scale operations without losing human connection. Technology became more like an enabler, freeing teams to focus on impact, not admin.

Today, Ventura remains founder-led and values-driven, expanding globally while protecting authenticity.

Key milestones in the Ventura TRAVEL story

Late 1990s

Ventura founder Andre studies, works, and travels across South America.

August 2000

First Ecuador group trip organized for 15 university students

September 2001

Plan to create the company is set. Andre, Magnus, Miguel, and Robi build the first website.

March 2002

Community support begins in Arequipa → roots of VSocial

May 2002

First official Viventura trip (Peru, Bolivia & Chile)

2005

VSocial's Capachica water project supports ~60 families

2007

Expansion to French market begins

photos related to post http://blog.viventura.de/?p=54458

2012

HQ moves from South America to Berlin, Germany

2015

Puraventura launched by Jonathan

2016

Viventura transitions into Ventura TRAVEL GmbH

2017

Galapatours becomes first platform brand

2018

Japaventura founded by intrapreneur Cecca